Method for forming semiconductor device structure

ABSTRACT

A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate. The substrate has a base and a multilayer structure over the base, and the gate stack wraps around the multilayer structure. The method includes partially removing the multilayer structure, which is not covered by the gate stack. The multilayer structure remaining under the gate stack forms a multilayer stack, and the multilayer stack includes a sacrificial layer and a channel layer over the sacrificial layer. The method includes partially removing the sacrificial layer to form a recess in the multilayer stack. The method includes forming an inner spacer layer in the recess and a bottom spacer over a sidewall of the channel layer. The method includes forming a source/drain structure over the bottom spacer. The bottom spacer separates the source/drain structure from the channel layer.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/586,523, filed on Sep. 27, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs. Each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. However, these advances have increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs.

In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometric size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling-down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs.

However, since feature sizes continue to decrease, fabrication processes continue to become more difficult to perform. Therefore, it is a challenge to form reliable semiconductor devices at smaller and smaller sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It should be noted that, in accordance with standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIGS. 1A-1H are perspective views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 1A-1 to 1H-1 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line I-I′ in FIGS. 1A-1H, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 1A-2 to 1H-2 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line II-II′ in FIGS. 1A-1H, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1A-3 is a top view of the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 1A, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1F-3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIG. 1F, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1G-3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIG. 1G, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1H-3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIG. 1H, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1H-4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line IV-IV′ in FIG. 1H, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2M are top views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-1 to 2M-1 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line I-I′ in FIGS. 2A-2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2 to 2M-2 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line II-II′ in FIGS. 2A-2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-3 to 2M-3 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIGS. 2A-2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2C-4 is a perspective view of the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 2C, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2M-4 is a perspective view of the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2M-5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line IV-IV′ in FIG. 2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2M-6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line V-V′ in FIG. 2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3C are cross-sectional views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4B are cross-sectional views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the subject matter provided. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Furthermore, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. It should be understood that additional operations can be provided before, during, and after the method, and some of the operations described can be replaced or eliminated for other embodiments of the method.

Some embodiments of the disclosure are described. Additional operations can be provided before, during, and/or after the stages described in these embodiments. Some of the stages that are described can be replaced or eliminated for different embodiments. Additional features can be added to the semiconductor device structure. Some of the features described below can be replaced or eliminated for different embodiments. Although some embodiments are discussed with operations performed in a particular order, these operations may be performed in another logical order.

The gate all around (GAA) transistor structures may be patterned by any suitable method. For example, the structures may be patterned using one or more photolithography processes, including double-patterning or multi-patterning processes. Generally, double-patterning or multi-patterning processes combine photolithography and self-aligned processes, allowing patterns to be created that have, for example, pitches smaller than what is otherwise obtainable using a single, direct photolithography process. For example, in one embodiment, a sacrificial layer is formed over a substrate and patterned using a photolithography process. Spacers are formed alongside the patterned sacrificial layer using a self-aligned process. The sacrificial layer is then removed, and the remaining spacers may then be used to pattern the GAA structure.

FIGS. 1A-1H are perspective views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 1A-1 to 1H-1 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line I-I′ in FIGS. 1A-1H, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 1A-2 to 1H-2 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line II-II′ in FIGS. 1A-1H, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1A-3 is a top view of the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 1A, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 1A-1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line I-I′ in FIG. 1A-3, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 1A-2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line II-II′ in FIGS. 1A-3, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1A-1, 1A-2, and 1A-3, a substrate 110 is provided, in accordance with some embodiments. The substrate 110 has a base 112 and fin structure 114 and 116, in accordance with some embodiments. The base 112 includes, for example, a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes, for example, a semiconductor wafer (such as a silicon wafer) or a portion of a semiconductor wafer. In some embodiments, the base 112 is made of an elementary semiconductor material including silicon or germanium in a single crystal, polycrystal, or amorphous structure.

In some other embodiments, the base 112 is made of a compound semiconductor, such as silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, and/or indium arsenide, an alloy semiconductor, such as SiGe and/or GaAsP, or a combination thereof. The base 112 may also include multi-layer semiconductors, semiconductor on insulator (SOI) (such as silicon on insulator or germanium on insulator), or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the base 112 is a device wafer that includes various device elements. In some embodiments, the various device elements are formed in and/or over the base 112. The device elements are not shown in figures for the purpose of simplicity and clarity. Examples of the various device elements include active devices, passive devices, other suitable elements, or a combination thereof. The active devices may include transistors or diodes (not shown). The passive devices include resistors, capacitors, or other suitable passive devices.

For example, the transistors may be metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, bipolar junction transistors (BJT), high-voltage transistors, high-frequency transistors, p-channel and/or n-channel field effect transistors (PFETs/NFETs), etc. Various processes, such as front-end-of-line (FEOL) semiconductor fabrication processes, are performed to form the various device elements. The FEOL semiconductor fabrication processes may include deposition, etching, implantation, photolithography, annealing, planarization, one or more other applicable processes, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, isolation features (not shown) are formed in the base 112. The isolation features are used to define active regions and electrically isolate various device elements formed in and/or over the base 112 in the active regions. In some embodiments, the isolation features include shallow trench isolation (STI) features, local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) features, other suitable isolation features, or a combination thereof.

The fin structures 114 and 116 are over the base 112, in accordance with some embodiments. The fin structure 116 is wider than the fin structure 114, in accordance with some embodiments. The fin structure 114 has a width W1, in accordance with some embodiments. The fin structure 116 has a width W2, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, a ratio (W2/W1) of the width W2 to the width W1 is greater than about 2. The ratio (W2/W1) ranges from about 2 to about 20, in accordance with some embodiments.

Each fin structure 114 includes a bottom portion 114 a and a multilayer stack 114 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The multilayer stack 114 b is over the bottom portion 114 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The multilayer stack 114 b includes sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and channel layers 114 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments. The sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and the channel layers 114 b 2 are alternately arranged as illustrated in FIG. 1A, in accordance with some embodiments.

It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, FIG. 1A shows four layers of the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and four layers of the channel layers 114 b 2 for illustration, but does not limit the invention thereto. In some embodiments, the number of the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 or the channel layers 114 b 2 is between 2 and 10.

The sacrificial layers 114 b 1 are made of a first material, such as a first semiconductor material, in accordance with some embodiments. The channel layers 114 b 2 are made of a second material, such as a second semiconductor material, in accordance with some embodiments.

The first material is different from the second material, in accordance with some embodiments. The first material has an etch selectivity with respect to the second material, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 are made of SiGe, and the channel layers 114 b 2 are made of Si.

In some other embodiments, the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 or the channel layers 114 b 2 are made of other materials such as germanium, a compound semiconductor such as silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, and/or indium antimonide, an alloy semiconductor such as GaAsP, AlInAs, AlGaAs, InGaAs, GaInP, and/or GaInAsP, or combinations thereof.

The channel layers 114 b 2, the bottom portion 114 a, and the base 112 are made of the same material such as Si, and the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and the bottom portion 114 a (or the base 112) are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments, the sacrificial layers 114 b 1, the channel layers 114 b 2, and the bottom portion 114 a (or the base 112) are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. The sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and the channel layers 114 b 2 are formed using a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process, a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, and/or another suitable epitaxial growth process.

Each fin structure 116 includes a bottom portion 116 a and a multilayer stack 116 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The multilayer stack 116 b is over the bottom portion 116 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The multilayer stack 116 b includes sacrificial layers 116 b 1 and channel layers 116 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments. The sacrificial layers 116 b 1 and the channel layers 116 b 2 are alternately arranged as illustrated in FIG. 1A, in accordance with some embodiments.

It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, FIG. 1A shows four layers of the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 and four layers of the channel layers 116 b 2 for illustration, but does not limit the invention thereto. In some embodiments, the number of the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 or the channel layers 116 b 2 is between 2 and 10.

The sacrificial layers 116 b 1 are made of a first material, such as a first semiconductor material, in accordance with some embodiments. The channel layers 116 b 2 are made of a second material, such as a second semiconductor material, in accordance with some embodiments.

The first material is different from the second material, in accordance with some embodiments. The first material has an etch selectivity with respect to the second material, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 are made of SiGe, and the channel layers 116 b 2 are made of Si.

In some other embodiments, the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 or the channel layers 116 b 2 are made of other materials such as germanium, a compound semiconductor such as silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, and/or indium antimonide, an alloy semiconductor such as GaAsP, AlInAs, AlGaAs, InGaAs, GaInP, and/or GaInAsP, or combinations thereof.

The channel layers 116 b 2, the bottom portion 116 a, and the base 112 are made of the same material such as Si, and the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 and the bottom portion 116 a (or the base 112) are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments, the sacrificial layers 116 b 1, the channel layers 116 b 2, and the bottom portion 116 a (or the base 112) are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. The sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and 116 b 1 are made of the same material such as SiGe, in accordance with some embodiments. The channel layers 114 b 2 and 116 b 2 are made of the same material such as Si, in accordance with some embodiments.

The sacrificial layers 116 b 1 and the channel layers 116 b 2 are formed using a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process, a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, and/or another suitable epitaxial growth process.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a dielectric layer 120 is formed over the base 112, in accordance with some embodiments. The dielectric layer 120 is made of oxide (such as silicon oxide), fluorosilicate glass (FSG), a low-k dielectric material, and/or another suitable dielectric material. The dielectric layer 120 may be formed by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, or another applicable process.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1A-1, and 1A-3, gate stacks 130 and mask layers M1 and M2 are formed over the fin structures 114 and 116 and the dielectric layer 120, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stacks 130 wrap around upper portions (i.e., the multilayer stacks 114 b and 116 b) of the fin structures 114 and 116, in accordance with some embodiments.

Each gate stack 130 includes a gate dielectric layer 132 and a gate electrode 134, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layer 132, the gate electrode 134, and the mask layers M1 and M2 are sequentially stacked over the fin structures 114 and 116, in accordance with some embodiments.

The gate dielectric layer 132 conformally covers the fin structures 114 and 116 and the dielectric layer 120, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layer 132 is made of an insulating material, such as oxide (e.g., silicon oxide), in accordance with some embodiments. The gate electrode 134 is made of a semiconductor material (e.g. polysilicon) or a conductive material (e.g., metal or alloy), in accordance with some embodiments.

The formation of the gate dielectric layer 132 and the gate electrode 134 includes: depositing a gate dielectric material layer (not shown) over the fin structures 114 and 116 and the dielectric layer 120; depositing a gate electrode material layer (not shown) over the gate dielectric material layer; sequentially forming the mask layers M1 and M2 over the gate electrode material layer, wherein the mask layers M1 and M2 expose portions of the gate electrode material layer; and removing the exposed portions of the gate electrode material layer and the gate dielectric material layer thereunder, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the mask layer M1 serves a buffer layer or an adhesion layer that is formed between the underlying gate electrode 134 and the overlying mask layer M2. The mask layer M1 may also be used as an etch stop layer when the mask layer M2 is removed or etched.

In some embodiments, the mask layer M1 is made of an oxide-containing insulating material (e.g., silicon oxide), a nitride-containing insulating material (e.g., silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, or silicon carbonitride), or a metal oxide material (e.g., aluminum oxide).

In some embodiments, the mask layer M1 is formed by a deposition process, such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process, a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process, a spin-on process, or another applicable process.

In some embodiments, the mask layer M2 is made of an oxide-containing insulating material (e.g., silicon oxide), a nitride-containing insulating material (e.g., silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, or silicon carbonitride), silicon carbide, or a metal oxide material (e.g., aluminum oxide). The mask layers M1 and M2 are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the mask layer M2 is formed by a deposition process, such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process, a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process, a spin-on process, or another applicable process.

After the formation of the mask layer M1 and the mask layer M2, the mask layer M1 and the overlying mask layer M2 are patterned by a photolithography process and an etching process, so as to expose the portions of the gate electrode material layer.

As shown in FIGS. 1B, 1B-1, and 1B-2, a spacer layer 140 is conformally formed over the fin structures 114 and 116, the dielectric layer 120, the gate stacks 130, and the mask layers M1 and M2, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1B, the spacer layer 140 is a multi-layered structure.

The spacer layer 140 includes layers 142 and 144, in accordance with some embodiments. The layer 144 is over the layer 142, in accordance with some embodiments. The layers 142 and 144 are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments (not shown), the spacer layer 140 is a single-layered structure.

In some embodiments, the layer 142 or 144 is made of an oxide-containing insulating material, such as silicon oxide. In some other embodiments, the layer 142 or 144 is made of a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN), or silicon carbonitride (SiCN). The layers 142 and 144 are formed using a deposition process, such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, or a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1C-1, and 1C-2, portions of the spacer layer 140 and the multilayer stacks 114 b and 116 b, which are not covered by the gate stacks 130 and the spacer layer 140 over sidewalls of the gate stacks 130, are removed, in accordance with some embodiments. After the removal process, the spacer layer 140 remains over opposite sidewalls of the gate stacks 130, opposite sidewalls of the mask layers M1 and M2, and the top surfaces 122 of the dielectric layer 120, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments (not shown), the spacer layer 140 over the top surfaces 122 is also removed.

The removal process forms recesses 114 r and 116 r in the fin structures 114 and 116, in accordance with some embodiments. Each multilayer structure 114 b is divided into multilayer stacks 114 s by the recesses 114 r, in accordance with some embodiments. Each multilayer stack 114 s includes four layers of the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and four layers of the channel layers 114 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments.

Each multilayer structure 116 b is divided into multilayer stacks 116 s by the recesses 116 r, in accordance with some embodiments. Each multilayer stack 116 s includes four layers of the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 and four layers of the channel layers 116 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process for forming the recesses 114 r and 116 r includes an etching process, such as an anisotropic etching process (e.g., a dry etching process), in accordance with some embodiments.

The removal process forms recesses 140 a and 140 b in the spacer layer 140, in accordance with some embodiments. The recesses 140 a are respectively over and respectively expose the bottom portions 114 a of the fin structures 114, in accordance with some embodiments. The recesses 140 b is over and exposes the bottom portion 116 a of the fin structure 116, in accordance with some embodiments. The recess 140 a is narrower than the recess 140 b, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1D, 1D-1, and 1D-2, portions of the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 are removed from sidewalls S1 of the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 to form recesses R1 in the multilayer stacks 114 s, in accordance with some embodiments. Each recess R1 is surrounded by the corresponding sacrificial layer 114 b 1 and the corresponding channel layers 114 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1D, portions of the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 are removed from sidewalls S2 of the sacrificial layers 116 b 1 to form recesses R2 in the multilayer stacks 116 s, in accordance with some embodiments. Each recess R2 is surrounded by the corresponding sacrificial layer 116 b 1 and the corresponding channel layers 116 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process of the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and 116 b 1 includes an etching process, such as an isotropic etching process (e.g., a dry etching process or a wet etching process), in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1D, 1E, 1E-1, and 1E-2, an inner spacer material layer 150 m is formed in the recesses 140 a, 140 b, R1 and R2, in accordance with some embodiments. Since the recess 140 a is narrower than the recess 140 b, the recesses 140 a are filled with the inner spacer material layer 150 m, and the inner spacer material layer 150 m conformally covers inner walls and a bottom surface of the recess 140 b, in accordance with some embodiments.

The inner spacer material layer 150 m and the spacer layer 140 are made of different materials. In some embodiments, the inner spacer material layer 150 m is made of an oxide-containing insulating material, such as silicon oxide. In some other embodiments, the inner spacer material layer 150 m is made of a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN), or silicon carbonitride (SiCN). The inner spacer material layer 150 m is formed using a deposition process, such as a chemical vapor deposition process or a physical vapor deposition process, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1F-3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIG. 1F, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 1F, 1F-1, 1F-2, and 1F-3, the inner spacer material layer 150 m is partially removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process removes the inner spacer material layer 150 m covering the bottom portion 116 a and sidewalls S3 and S4 of the channel layers 114 b 2 and 116 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments.

The remaining inner spacer material layer 150 m forms an inner spacer layer 150, in accordance with some embodiments. The inner spacer layer 150 is in the recesses 140 a of the spacer layer 140 and the recesses R1 and R2 of the multilayer stacks 114 s and 116 s, in accordance with some embodiments. The inner spacer layer 150 is over the bottom portions 114 a and the spacer layer 140, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1F-2, there are recesses 141 a surrounded by the inner spacer layer 150 and the spacer layer 140, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1G-3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIG. 1G, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 1G, 1G-1, 1G-2, and 1G-3, stressors 162 and 164 are respectively formed over the spacer layer 150 and the bottom portion 116 a, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1G-2, the stressor 162 is partially in the corresponding recess 141 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The stressor 164 is partially in the recess 140 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The stressor 164 is in direct contact with the bottom portion 116 a, in accordance with some embodiments.

Since the spacer layer 140 originally over sidewalls of the multilayer stacks 114 b and 116 b (as shown in FIG. 1B-2) remains during forming the stressors 162 and 164 (as shown in FIG. 1G-2), the remaining spacer layer 140 may constrain the size (e.g., the width) of the stressors 162 and 164 to avoid bridge between neighboring stressors 162 and 164, in accordance with some embodiments. Therefore, the yield of the stressors 162 and 164 is improved, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the stressors 162 and 164 are made of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon germanium) with P-type dopants, such as the Group IIIA element, in accordance with some embodiments. The Group IIIA element includes boron or another suitable material.

In some other embodiments, the stressors 162 and 164 are made of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon) with N-type dopants, such as the Group VA element, in accordance with some embodiments. The Group VA element includes phosphor (P), antimony (Sb), or another suitable Group VA material. The stressors 162 and 164 are formed using an epitaxial process, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1H-3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIG. 1H, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 1H, 1H-1, 1H-2, and 1H-3, a dielectric layer 170 is formed over the stressors 162 and 164 and the spacer layer 140, in accordance with some embodiments. The dielectric layer 170 is made of an oxide-containing insulating material, such as silicon oxide, or a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, or silicon carbonitride, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1H, 1H-1, and 1H-3, the gate electrodes 134 are removed to form trenches 140 t in the spacer layer 140, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as a wet etching process or a dry etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1H, 1H-1, and 1H-3, the gate dielectric layers 132 are removed through the trenches 140 t, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as a wet etching process or a dry etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1H-1 and 1H-3, the sacrificial layers 114 b 1 and 116 b 1 are removed through the trenches 140 t, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as a wet etching process or a dry etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1H, 1H-1, and 1H-3, gate stacks 180 are formed in the trenches 140 t, in accordance with some embodiments. In this step, a semiconductor device structure 100 is substantially formed, in accordance with some embodiments. Each gate stack 180 includes a gate dielectric layer 182, a work function layer 184, and a gate electrode layer 186, in accordance with some embodiments.

The gate dielectric layer 182, the work function layer 184, and the gate electrode layer 186 are sequentially stacked over the channel layers 114 b 2 and 116 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stack 180 wraps around the channel layers 114 b 2 and 116 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments.

Since the inner spacer layer 150 electrically insulates the stressors 162 thereover from the bottom portions 114 a thereunder, the inner spacer layer 150 prevents current leakage between the stressors 162 and the bottom portions 114 a, in accordance with some embodiments.

The current leakage is positively related to voltage across the stressors, the voltage across the stressors is positively related to the resistance of the channel layers, and the resistance of the channel layers is negatively related to the channel area. Since the fin structure 116 is wider than the fin structure 114, the channel layer 116 b 2 of the fin structure 116 is wider than the channel layer 114 b 2 of the fin structure 114 (as shown in FIG. 1H-4), and the channel area of the channel layer 116 b 2 is greater than that of the channel layer 114 b 2. Therefore, the voltage across the stressors 164 is less than the voltage across the stressors 162, in accordance with some embodiments. Therefore, the current leakage between the stressors 164 and the bottom portions 116 a is significantly less than the current leakage between the stressors 162 and the bottom portions 114 a, in accordance with some embodiments. As a result, even if there is no inner spacer layer 150 between the stressors 164 and the bottom portions 116 a, the current leakage between the stressors 164 and the bottom portions 116 a is very small and acceptable.

FIGS. 2A-2M are top views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 2A-1 to 2M-1 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line I-I′ in FIGS. 2A-2M, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 2A-2 to 2M-2 are cross-sectional views illustrating the semiconductor device structure along the sectional line II-II′ in FIGS. 2A-2M, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 2A-3 to 2M-3 are cross-sectional view illustrating the semiconductor device structure along a sectional line III-III′ in FIGS. 2A-2M, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2A-1, 2A-2, and 2A-3, a substrate 210 is provided, in accordance with some embodiments. The substrate 210 includes a lower portion 212 and a multilayer structure 214, in accordance with some embodiments. The multilayer structure 214 is formed over the lower portion 212, in accordance with some embodiments.

The lower portion 212 includes, for example, a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes, for example, a semiconductor wafer (such as a silicon wafer) or a portion of a semiconductor wafer. In some embodiments, the lower portion 212 is made of an elementary semiconductor material including silicon or germanium in a single crystal, polycrystal, or amorphous structure.

In some other embodiments, the lower portion 212 is made of a compound semiconductor, such as silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, and/or indium arsenide, an alloy semiconductor, such as SiGe and/or GaAsP, or a combination thereof. The lower portion 212 may also include multi-layer semiconductors, semiconductor on insulator (SOI) (such as silicon on insulator or germanium on insulator), or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the lower portion 212 is a device wafer that includes various device elements. In some embodiments, the various device elements are formed in and/or over the lower portion 212. The device elements are not shown in figures for the purpose of simplicity and clarity. Examples of the various device elements include active devices, passive devices, other suitable elements, or a combination thereof. The active devices may include transistors or diodes (not shown). The passive devices include resistors, capacitors, or other suitable passive devices.

For example, the transistors may be metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, bipolar junction transistors (BJT), high-voltage transistors, high-frequency transistors, p-channel and/or n-channel field effect transistors (PFETs/NFETs), etc. Various processes, such as front-end-of-line (FEOL) semiconductor fabrication processes, are performed to form the various device elements. The FEOL semiconductor fabrication processes may include deposition, etching, implantation, photolithography, annealing, planarization, one or more other applicable processes, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, isolation features (not shown) are formed in the lower portion 212. The isolation features are used to define active regions and electrically isolate various device elements formed in and/or over the lower portion 212 in the active regions. In some embodiments, the isolation features include shallow trench isolation (STI) features, local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) features, other suitable isolation features, or a combination thereof.

The multilayer structure 214 includes sacrificial layers 214 a and channel layers 214 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The sacrificial layers 214 a and the channel layers 214 b are alternately arranged as illustrated in FIG. 2A-1, in accordance with some embodiments. It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, FIG. 2A-1 shows four layers of the sacrificial layers 214 a and four layers of the channel layers 214 b for illustration, but does not limit the invention thereto. In some embodiments, the number of the sacrificial layers 214 a or the channel layers 214 b is between 2 and 10.

The sacrificial layers 214 a are made of a first material, such as a first semiconductor material, in accordance with some embodiments. The channel layers 214 b are made of a second material, such as a second semiconductor material, in accordance with some embodiments.

The first material is different from the second material, in accordance with some embodiments. The first material has an etch selectivity with respect to the second material, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the sacrificial layers 214 a are made of SiGe, and the channel layers 214 b are made of Si.

In some other embodiments, the sacrificial layers 214 a or the channel layers 214 b are made of other materials such as germanium, a compound semiconductor such as silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, and/or indium antimonide, an alloy semiconductor such as GaAsP, AlInAs, AlGaAs, InGaAs, GaInP, and/or GaInAsP, or combinations thereof.

The channel layers 214 b and the lower portion 212 are made of the same material such as Si, and the sacrificial layers 214 a and the lower portion 212 are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments, the sacrificial layers 214 a, the channel layers 214 b, and the lower portion 212 are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. The sacrificial layers 214 a and the channel layers 214 b are formed using a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) process, a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, and/or another suitable epitaxial growth process.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2A-1, 2A-2, and 2A-3, a patterned mask layer 220 is formed over the multilayer structure 214, in accordance with some embodiments. The patterned mask layer 220 exposes portions of the substrate 210 (or the multilayer structure 214), in accordance with some embodiments.

The patterned mask layer 220 is made of an oxide material such as silicon dioxide (SiO₂), a nitride material such as silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), or another suitable material, which is different from the materials of the substrate 210 (or the multilayer structure 214), in accordance with some embodiments. The patterned mask layer 220 is formed using a deposition process (e.g., a physical vapor deposition process or a chemical vapor deposition process), a photolithography process, and an etching process (e.g., a dry etching process), in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2B-1, 2B-2, and 2B-3, the portions of the substrate 210 exposed by the patterned mask layer 220 are removed, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2B, 2B-2, and 2B-3, the removal process forms trenches 211 in the substrate 210, in accordance with some embodiments.

After the removal process, the remaining portion of the substrate 210 includes a base 213 and fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The fin structures 216 and 217 are over the base 213, in accordance with some embodiments. The base 213 is formed from the lower portion 212 (as shown in FIGS. 2A-1, 2A-2, and 2A-3), in accordance with some embodiments.

The fin structure 216 or 217 includes a bottom portion 215 and a portion of the multilayer structure 214, which includes the sacrificial layers 214 a and the channel layers 214 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The bottom portion 215 is formed from the lower portion 212 (as shown in FIGS. 2A-1, 2A-2, and 2A-3), in accordance with some embodiments. The fin structures 216 and 217 are spaced apart from each other, in accordance with some embodiments. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, FIGS. 2B and 2B-1 omit some structures between the fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the patterned mask layer 220 is removed, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2B, 2B-2, and 2B-3, a dielectric layer 230 is formed in the trenches 211, in accordance with some embodiments. The dielectric layer 230 is made of oxide (such as silicon oxide), fluorosilicate glass (FSG), a low-k dielectric material, and/or another suitable dielectric material.

FIG. 2C-4 is a perspective view of the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 2C, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2C, 2C-1, 2C-2, 2C-3, and 2C-4, gate stacks 240 are formed over the fin structures 216 and 217, and the dielectric layer 230, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stacks 240 respectively wrap around the multilayer stacks 214 of the fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

Each gate stack 240 includes a gate dielectric layer 242 and a gate electrode 244, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layer 242 and the gate electrode 244 are sequentially stacked over the fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

The gate dielectric layer 242 is between the gate electrode 244 and the fin structure 216 or 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layer 242 is made of an insulating material, such as oxide (e.g., silicon oxide), in accordance with some embodiments. The gate electrode 244 is made of a semiconductor material (e.g. polysilicon) or a conductive material (e.g., metal or alloy), in accordance with some embodiments.

The formation of the gate dielectric layer 242 and the gate electrode 244 includes: conformally depositing a gate dielectric material layer (not shown) over the fin structures 216 and 217 and the dielectric layer 230; depositing a gate electrode material layer (not shown) over the gate dielectric material layer; forming a mask layer (not shown) over the gate electrode material layer, wherein the mask layer exposes portions of the gate electrode material layer; removing the exposed portions of the gate electrode material layer and the gate dielectric material layer thereunder; and removing the mask layer, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2C, 2C-1, 2C-2, 2C-3, and 2C-4, a spacer layer 250 is formed over sidewalls of the gate stacks 240, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments (not shown), the spacer layer 250 is a multi-layered structure. The spacer layer 250 is made of a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN), or silicon carbonitride (SiCN). The spacer layer 250 is formed using a deposition process, such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, or a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, and an etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2D, 2D-1, 2D-2, and 2D-3, upper portions (i.e., the multilayer structures 214) of the fin structures 216 and 217, which are not covered by the gate stacks 240 and the spacer layer 250, are removed, in accordance with some embodiments.

The removal process forms recesses 216 a and 217 a respectively in the fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments. Each multilayer structure 214 is divided into multilayer stacks 214S by the recesses 216 a and 217 a, in accordance with some embodiments. Each multilayer stack 214S includes four layers of the sacrificial layers 214 a and four layers of the channel layers 214 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process for forming the recesses 216 a and 217 a includes an etching process, such as an anisotropic etching process (e.g., a dry etching process), in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2D, 2D-1, 2D-2, and 2D-3, portions of the sacrificial layers 214 a are removed from sidewalls S5 of the sacrificial layers 214 a to form recesses R1 in the multilayer stacks 214S, in accordance with some embodiments. Each recess R1 is surrounded by the corresponding sacrificial layer 214 a and the corresponding channel layers 214 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as an isotropic etching process (e.g., a dry etching process or a wet etching process), in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2E, 2E-1, 2E-2, and 2E-3, a spacer material layer 260 is deposited over the multilayer stacks 214S, the bottom portions 215, the gate stacks 240, and the spacer layer 250, in accordance with some embodiments. The spacer material layer 260 fills the recesses R1 of the multilayer stacks 214S, in accordance with some embodiments. The spacer material layer 260 is made of an oxide-containing insulating material, such as silicon oxide. In some other embodiments, the spacer material layer 260 is made of a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN), or silicon carbonitride (SiCN).

As shown in FIGS. 2F, 2F-1, 2F-2, and 2F-3, portions of the spacer material layer 260 are removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process removes the spacer material layer 260 covering sidewalls S6 of the highest three channel layers 214 b of the multilayer stacks 214S, in accordance with some embodiments.

The spacer material layer 260 remaining in the recesses R1 forms an inner spacer layer 270, in accordance with some embodiments. The spacer material layer 260 remaining in the recesses 216 a and 217 a (or the spacer material layer 260 remaining over the bottom portion 215) forms bottom spacers 280, in accordance with some embodiments.

The channel layers 214 b of the fin structures 216 and 217 include lowest channel layers 214 b′, in accordance with some embodiments. The bottom spacers 280 cover two opposite sidewalls S6 of each lowest channel layer 214 b′ of the fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The lowest channel layer 214 b′ of the fin structure 216 is between the bottom spacers 280 in the recesses 216 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The lowest channel layer 214 b′ of the fin structure 217 is between the bottom spacers 280 in the recesses 217 a, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some other embodiments (not shown), the bottom spacers 280 cover the sidewalls S6 of the lowest two channel layers 214 b′ or the lowest three channel layers 214 b′ depending on requirements, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an isotropic etching process, such as a dry etching process or a wet etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2G, 2G-1, 2G-2, and 2G-3, a mask layer M11 is formed over the bottom spacers 280 in the recesses 217 a, the fin structure 217, and the gate stacks 240 over the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The mask layer M11 is made of a polymer material (e.g., a photoresist material), or another suitable material, which is different from the materials of the bottom spacers 280, the inner spacer layer 270, the spacer layer 250, the fin structures 216 and 217, and the gate stacks 240, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2H, 2H-1, 2H-2, and 2H-3, the bottom spacers 280 in the recesses 216 a are removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process using the mask layer M11 as an etching mask, in accordance with some embodiments. The etching process includes a dry etching process and/or a wet etching process, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2H, 2H-1, 2H-2, and 2H-3, the mask layer M11 is removed, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2I, 2I-1, 2I-2, and 2I-3, a mask layer M12 is formed over the fin structure 216 and the gate stacks 240 over the fin structure 216, in accordance with some embodiments. The mask layer M12 is made of a polymer material (e.g., a photoresist material), or another suitable material, which is different from the materials of the inner spacer layer 270, the spacer layer 250, the fin structures 216 and 217, and the gate stacks 240, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2I, 2I-1, 2I-2, and 2I-3, stressors 290 are formed over the sidewalls S6 of the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The stressors 290 are in direct contact with the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The stressors 290 are positioned in the recesses 217 a and over the bottom spacers 280, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the stressors 290 are made of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon) with N-type dopants, such as the Group VA element, in accordance with some embodiments. The Group VA element includes phosphor (P), antimony (Sb), or another suitable Group VA material. The stressors 290 are formed using an epitaxial process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2J, 2J-1, 2J-2, and 2J-3, a mask layer M13 is formed over the stressors 290, the fin structure 217, and the gate stacks 240 over the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The mask layer M13 is made of a polymer material (e.g., a photoresist material), or another suitable material, which is different from the materials of the stressors 290, the gate stacks 240, the spacer layer 250, and the fin structures 216 and 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2J, 2J-1, 2J-2, and 2J-3, stressors 310 are formed over the sidewalls S6 of the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 216, in accordance with some embodiments. The stressors 310 are in direct contact with the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 216, in accordance with some embodiments. The stressors 310 are positioned in the recesses 216 a, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the stressors 310 are made of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon germanium) with P-type dopants, such as the Group IIIA element, in accordance with some embodiments. The Group IIIA element includes boron or another suitable material.

As shown in FIGS. 2K, 2K-1, 2K-2, and 2K-3, the mask layer M13 is removed, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2L, 2L-1, 2L-2, and 2L-3, a dielectric layer 320 is formed over the stressors 290 and 310 and the dielectric layer 230, in accordance with some embodiments. The dielectric layer 320 is made of an oxide-containing insulating material, such as silicon oxide, or a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxycarbonitride, or silicon carbonitride, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2L and 2L-1, the gate stacks 240 are removed to form trenches TR in the spacer layer 250, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as a wet etching process or a dry etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2L and 2L-1, the sacrificial layers 214 a are removed through the trenches TR, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as a wet etching process or a dry etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2M-4 is a perspective view of the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 2M, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2M, 2M-1, 2M-2, 2M-3, and 2M-4, gate stacks G1 and G2 are respectively formed in the trenches TR, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stacks G1 are formed over the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 216, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stacks G2 are formed over the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 2M-1, each gate stack G1 includes a gate dielectric layer 330 a, a work function metal layer 340 a, and a gate electrode layer 350 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layer 330 a, the work function metal layer 340 a, and the gate electrode layer 350 a are sequentially stacked over the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 216, in accordance with some embodiments.

Each gate stack G2 includes a gate dielectric layer 330 b, a work function metal layer 340 b, and a gate electrode layer 350 b, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layer 330 b, the work function metal layer 340 b, and the gate electrode layer 350 b are sequentially stacked over the channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a dielectric constant of the gate dielectric layers 330 a and 330 b is greater than a dielectric constant of silicon dioxide. The gate dielectric layers 330 a and 330 b are also referred to as high dielectric-constant (high-k) layers, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate dielectric layers 330 a and 330 b are made of a high-k dielectric material, such as hafnium dioxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, hafnium dioxide-alumina alloy, hafnium silicon oxide, hafnium silicon oxynitride, hafnium tantalum oxide, hafnium titanium oxide, hafnium zirconium oxide, another suitable high-K material, or a combination thereof.

The work function metal layers 340 a and 340 b are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stack G1 is used to form a PMOS transistor, and therefore the work function metal layer 340 a is used to provide a work function value suitable for the device, such as equal to or greater than about 4.8 eV, in accordance with some embodiments. The work function metal layer 340 a may be made of metal, metal carbide, metal nitride, other suitable materials, or a combination thereof. For example, the work function metal layer 340 a is made of titanium, titanium nitride, other suitable materials, or a combination thereof.

The gate stack G2 is used to form a NMOS transistor, and therefore the work function metal layer 340 b is used to provide a work function value suitable for the device, such as equal to or less than about 4.5 eV. The work function metal layer 340 b may be made of metal, metal carbide, metal nitride, or a combination thereof. For example, the work function metal layer 340 b is made of tantalum, tantalum nitride, or a combination thereof.

The gate electrode layers 350 a and 350 b are made of a suitable conductive material, such as metal (e.g., aluminum, tungsten, gold, platinum, or cobalt), an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof, in accordance with some embodiments. The lowest channel layer 214 b′ of the fin structure 217 is electrically insulated from the stressors 290 and the bottom portion 215 thereunder by the bottom spacers 280 in the recesses 217 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The bottom spacers 280 separate the stressors 290 from the lowest channel layers 214 b′, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 2M-1, the gate stack G1 and the stressors 310 adjacent thereto together form a transistor A1, in accordance with some embodiments. The transistor A1 includes a p-type field-effect transistor (pFET), in accordance with some embodiments. The gate stack G2 and the stressors 290 adjacent thereto together form a transistor A2, in accordance with some embodiments. The transistor A2 includes a n-type field-effect transistor (nFET), in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 2M-5 and 2M-6, electrons have a high mobility on (100) surfaces B1 of the channel layers 214 b, and holes have a high mobility on (110) surfaces B2 of the channel layers 214 b, in accordance with some embodiments. Since the width W3 of the (100) surface is greater than the height H1 of the (110) surface B2, the nFET tends to have a higher driving current than that of the pFET, which results in a current mismatch between the nFET and the pFET and therefore the performance of the nFET and the pFET is reduced, in accordance with some embodiments. The bottom spacers 280 are used to reduce the number of the channel layers 214 b connected to the stressors 290, in accordance with some embodiments. Therefore, the driving current of the transistor A2 (i.e., the nFET) is reduced to match the driving current of the transistor A1 (i.e., the pFET), in accordance with some embodiments. Therefore, the performance of the transistors A1 and A2 is improved, in accordance with some embodiments.

The reduction of the number of the channel layers connected to the stressors may be applied to different requirements, such as reduction of a driving current of a transistor, reduction of a capacitance of a capacitor, or improvement in speed of an I/O device. The speed of the I/O device is negatively related to the parasitic capacitance.

As shown in FIG. 2M-1, the gate stack G1 or G2 has a width W4 or W5 ranges from about 5 nm to about 20 nm, in accordance with some embodiments. Each channel layer 214 b has a thickness T1 ranges from about 2 nm to about 10 nm, in accordance with some embodiments. The two adjacent channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 216 are spaced apart by a distance D1 ranging from about 5 nm to about 15 nm, in accordance with some embodiments. The two adjacent channel layers 214 b of the fin structure 217 are spaced apart by a distance D2 ranging from about 5 nm to about 18 nm, in accordance with some embodiments. The recesses 216 a extend into the bottom portion 215 to a depth DE1 ranging from about 1 nm to about 15 nm, in accordance with some embodiments. The recesses 217 a extend into the bottom portion 215 to a depth DE2 ranging from about 1 nm to about 15 nm, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments (not shown), the recesses 216 a and 217 a do not extend into the bottom portion 215.

FIGS. 3A-3C are cross-sectional views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3A, after the step of FIG. 2E, the spacer material layer 260 outside of the recesses R1 is removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The spacer material layer 260 remaining in the recesses R1 forms an inner spacer layer 270, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a bottom spacer material layer 360 a is formed in the recesses 216 a and 217 a, in accordance with some embodiments. The inner spacer layer 270 and the bottom spacer material layer 360 a are made of different materials, in accordance with some embodiments. In some other embodiments, the inner spacer layer 270 and the bottom spacer material layer 360 a are made of the same material.

The bottom spacer material layer 360 a is made of an oxide-containing insulating material, such as silicon oxide. In some other embodiments, the bottom spacer material layer 360 a is made of a nitride-containing insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN), or silicon carbonitride (SiCN).

The bottom spacer material layer 360 a is formed using a deposition process (e.g., a chemical vapor deposition process or a physical vapor deposition process) and a planarization process (e.g., a chemical mechanical polishing process), in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 3B, an upper portion of the bottom spacer material layer 360 a is removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The bottom spacer material layer 360 a remaining in the recesses 216 a and 217 a forms bottom spacers 360, in accordance with some embodiments. The bottom spacers 360 cover the sidewalls S6 of the lowest channel layers 214 b′ of the fin structures 216 and 217 and a sidewall S7 of a lower portion of the inner spacer layer 270, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process, such as a dry etching process or a wet etching process, in accordance with some embodiments.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3B, a mask layer M31 is formed over the bottom spacers 360 in the recesses 217 a, the fin structure 217, the gate stacks 240 over the fin structure 217, and the spacer layer 250 over the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments. The mask layer M31 is made of a polymer material (e.g., a photoresist material), or another suitable material, which is different from the materials of the bottom spacers 360, the inner spacer layer 270, the spacer layer 250, the fin structures 216 and 217, and the gate stacks 240, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the bottom spacers 360 in the recesses 216 a are removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The removal process includes an etching process using the mask layer M31 as an etching mask, in accordance with some embodiments. Thereafter, the steps of FIGS. 2I-2M are performed to form the stressors 290 and 310, the dielectric layer 320, and the gate stacks G1 and G2, in accordance with some embodiments. In this step, a semiconductor device structure 300 is substantially formed, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4B are cross-sectional views of various stages of a process for forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4A, after the step of FIG. 2E, the spacer material layer 260 covering the sidewalls S6 of the highest three channel layers 214 b of the fin structures 216 and 217 is removed, in accordance with some embodiments.

The spacer material layer 260 remaining in the recesses R1 forms an inner spacer layer 270, in accordance with some embodiments. The inner spacer layer 270 covers the sidewalls S6 of the lowest channel layers 214 b′ of the fin structures 216 and 217 and the upper surface 215 a of the bottom portion 215, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the inner spacer layer 270 covering the sidewalls S6 of the lowest channel layers 214 b′ and the upper surface 215 a of the bottom portion 215 of the fin structure 216 is removed, in accordance with some embodiments. The remaining inner spacer layer 270 covering the sidewalls S6 of the lowest channel layers 214 b′ and the upper surface 215 a of the bottom portion 215 of the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments.

Thereafter, the steps of FIGS. 3A-3B are performed to form bottom spacers 360 over the inner spacer layer 270 over the fin structure 217, in accordance with some embodiments. Afterwards, the steps of 2I-2M are performed to form the stressors 290 and 310, the dielectric layer 320, and the gate stacks G1 and G2, in accordance with some embodiments. In this step, a semiconductor device structure 400 is substantially formed, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device structure 500, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, the semiconductor device structure 500 is similar to the semiconductor device structure 100 of FIG. 1H-1, except that the inner spacer layer 150 of the semiconductor device structure 500 further covers the sidewalls S3 of the lowest channel layers 114 b 2′ of the multilayer stacks 114 s, in accordance with some embodiments. Therefore, the inner spacer layer 150 electrically insulates the lowest channel layers 114 b 2′ from the stressors 162, in accordance with some embodiments. The lowest channel layers 114 b 2′ are electrically insulated from the bottom portion 114 a and other channel layers 114 b 2, in accordance with some embodiments.

In accordance with some embodiments, semiconductor device structures and methods for forming the same are provided. The methods (for forming the semiconductor device structure) form a spacer layer between a fin structure and a stressor to electrically insulate the fin structure from the stressor. Therefore, the spacer layer prevents current leakage between the stressor and the fin structure.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate. The substrate has a base and a multilayer structure over the base, and the gate stack wraps around the multilayer structure. The method includes partially removing the multilayer structure, which is not covered by the gate stack. The multilayer structure remaining under the gate stack forms a multilayer stack, and the multilayer stack includes a sacrificial layer and a channel layer over the sacrificial layer. The method includes partially removing the sacrificial layer to form a recess in the multilayer stack. The method includes forming an inner spacer layer in the recess and a bottom spacer over a sidewall of the channel layer. The method includes forming a source/drain structure over the bottom spacer. The bottom spacer separates the source/drain structure from the channel layer.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising: forming a gate stack over a substrate, wherein the substrate has a base and a multilayer structure over the base, and the gate stack wraps around the multilayer structure; partially removing the multilayer structure, which is not covered by the gate stack, wherein the multilayer structure remaining under the gate stack forms a multilayer stack, and the multilayer stack comprises a sacrificial layer and a channel layer over the sacrificial layer; partially removing the sacrificial layer to form a recess in the multilayer stack; forming an inner spacer layer in the recess and a bottom spacer over a sidewall of the channel layer; and forming a source/drain structure over the bottom spacer, wherein the bottom spacer separates the source/drain structure from the channel layer. 